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Adventures of a Young Naturalist

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH'S ZOO QUEST EXPEDITIONS

By David Attenborough

Hardback

£25.00

THE EARLY ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG DAVID ATTENBOROUGHZoo Quest expeditions in Guyana, Indonesia and Paraguay - the perfect gift for fans of Blue Planet 2, Gerald Durrell and Ranulph Fiennes

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER - The gripping adventures of a young David Attenborough, published in a beautiful gift hardback, with a new introduction and a new selection of 90 pictures, including colour

'A marvellous book ... unputdownable ... utterly engaging' Telegraph'An elegant and gently funny writer' The Times 'His writing is as impressive and as enjoyable as his TV programmes and there can be no higher praise' Daily Express

In 1954, a young David Attenborough was offered the opportunity of a lifetime - to travel the world finding rare and elusive animals for London Zoo's collection, and to film the expeditions for the BBC for a new show called Zoo Quest.

This book records those voyages, which mark the very beginning of a career that spans decades and stretches across continents, from Life on Earth to Blue Planet II, from the deepest oceans, the darkest jungles and everywhere in between. Staying with local tribes while trekking in search of giant anteaters in Guyana, Komodo dragons in Indonesia and armadillos in Paraguay, he and the rest of the team battled with cannibal fish, aggressive tree porcupines and escape-artist wild pigs, as well as treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather, to record the incredible beauty and biodiversity of these regions. The methods may be outdated now, but the fascination and respect for the wildlife, the people and the environment - and the importance of protecting these wild places - is not.

Written with Attenborough's trademark wit and charm, Adventures of a Young Naturalistis not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world, and who is still doing so today.

Praise for Sir David Attenborough'A great educator as well as a great naturalist' - Barack Obama

'Sir David is a wizard of television, and, like Gandalf or Dumbledore, he has a near-magical gift for combining warmth and gravitas . . . the man who, for me, exemplifies the best in British broadcasting' - Louis Theroux

'When I was a young boy I used to love turning on the television and watching David's programmes and really feeling like I was either back out in Africa or I was learning about something magical and almost out of this planet' - Prince William

Other details

ISBN:
9781473664401

Publication date:
21 Sep 2017

Page count:
416

Imprint:
Two Roads

A marvellous book ... unputdownable ... utterly engaging. — Telegraph

An elegant and gently funny writer. — Damian Whitworth, The Times

This is a great book for anyone who wants to vicariously travel like an old-fashioned adventurer and seeks to understand how far we have come in developing a protective attitude to wildlife — New York Times

His writing is as impressive and as enjoyable as his TV programmes and there can be no higher praise. — Daily Express

A great educator as well as a great naturalist. — Barack Obama

Sir David is a wizard of television, and, like Gandalf or Dumbledore, he has a near-magical gift for combining warmth and gravitas . . . the man who, for me, exemplifies the best in British broadcasting. — Louis Theroux

Private Parts

Eleanor Thom

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Zeba Talkhani

It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime

Trevor Noah

Authors:

Trevor Noah

The host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, tells the story of growing up mixed race in South Africa under and after apartheid in this young readers' adaptation of his bestselling adult memoir Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.BORN A CRIME IS SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING OSCAR-WINNER LUPITA NYONG'O!Trevor Noah, host ofThe Daily Show, shares his remarkable story of growing up in South Africa, with a black South African mother and a white European father at a time when it was against the law for a mixed-race child like him to exist. But he did exist -- and from the beginning, the often-misbehaved Trevor used his keen smarts and humour to navigate a harsh life under a racist government. This compelling memoir blends drama, comedy and tragedy to depict the day-to-day trials that turned a boy into a young man. In a country where racism barred blacks from social, educational, and economic opportunity, Trevor surmounted staggering obstacles and created a promising future for himself, thanks to his mom's unwavering love and indomitable will.It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime not only provides a fascinating and honest perspective on South Africa's racial history, but it will also astound and inspire young readers looking to improve their own lives.

Animal Matters

Charlotte Rea

Authors:

Charlotte Rea

'Heartwarming and hilarious' TelegraphAn unusual 'dalmation', a TV star with cancer, an out of control budgie. Charlotte Rea has seen them all, and more. Animal Matters is Charlotte's diary of real-life cases written during a one year of her work as a veterinary surgeon in a 24-hour inner-city London animal charity. The diary reveals the reality of working as a vet, how it can be both emotional and amusing, one minute you can be consoling an owner on the loss of their much-loved pet, the next trying to catch an escaped budgie. Charlotte mixes deeply sad moments with amusing and unimaginable ones along with more detailed accounts and reflections back on her training and the experiences she has come up against over the decade since she graduated. Throughout the book you will get to know both the animals and the people and how close the bond between us can be. Charlotte also discusses contemporary issues in veterinary medicine such as animal euthanasia, RSPCA welfare cases, mental health issues within the veterinary profession, ethical concerns around pedigree dog breeding and the laws on dangerous dogs. Animal Matters is a moving and heartwarming book about the unconditional love between animals and humans.

Ask an Ocean Explorer

Jonathan Copley

Authors:

Jonathan Copley

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Threads of Life

Clare Hunter

Authors:

Clare Hunter

The Hare with Amber Eyes meets The History of the World in 100 Objects: an eloquent history of the language of sewing'Threads of Life is a beautifully considered book...Clare Hunter mixes the personal with the political with moving results.' TRACY CHEVALIER**RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK**For the mothers of the disappeared in 1970s Argentina, protest was difficult. Every Thursday they marched in front of government buildings wearing headscarves embroidered with the names of their lost children. Through sewing, they found a way to campaign. In Tudor England Mary, Queen of Scots was under house arrest and her letters were censored, so she sewed secret treason into her needlework to communicate with the world outside. From the political propaganda of the Bayeux Tapestry and First World War soldiers with PTSD, to the maps sewn by schoolgirls in the New World, Threads of Life stretches from medieval France to contemporary Mexico, from a POW camp in Singapore to a family attic in Scotland. It is a chronicle of identity, protest, memory, power and politics told through the stories of the men and women, over centuries and across continents, who have used the language of sewing to make their voices heard, even in the most desperate of circumstances.In an eloquent blend of history and memoir, Threads of Life is an evocative and moving book about the need we all have to tell our story.

George Best: A Memoir: A unique biography of a football icon

Michael Parkinson

Authors:

Michael Parkinson

Michael Parkinson and George Best faced one another countless times in interviews. Their conversations were mutually respectful, even intimate, yet always brimming with searching questions and revealing answers.The great Manchester United and Northern Ireland attacker - one of the few sports personalities to merit the term 'iconic' - was almost always candid, lucid and self-effacing. Alcoholism had him in its grip from an early age, affecting the love affairs that fed the tabloid headlines, but there was far more to Best than booze and birds.In George Best: A Memoir, Michael Parkinson draws upon decades of award-winning journalistic experience to re-evaluate a remarkable footballer and a damaged friend. The book weaves together recollections of when the 'the fifth Beatle' ensured it was Manchester, not London or Liverpool, which made the Sixties swing; of Best enjoying a carefree kickabout with the Parkinsons' children in the family garden; and selected transcripts from their endlessly fascinating interviews.'Where did it all go wrong?' is the punchline to a famous Best story. George Best: A Memoir provides Michael Parkinson's considered response to the question while bringing fresh insight into the footballing genius that made Best one of the immortals and the self-destructive side of his character.

Pushing the Boundaries: Cricket in the Eighties

Derek Pringle

Authors:

Derek Pringle

'Pringle's tale is both a love letter to the greatest player of his generation, Sir Ian Botham and an engaging romp in which cricket only plays a walk-on part.' Michael AthertonThe Eighties was a colourful period in English cricket. As a member of the most successful team in Essex's history and an England side capable of extraordinary highs and lows, Derek Pringle was lucky enough to be in the thick of it. Now, with the perspective of more than twenty years as a journalist, he lays bare the realities of life as a professional cricketer in a decade when the game was dominated by a cast of unforgettable characters, whose exploits became front-page news.Picked for the Test side while still an ear stud-wearing student at Cambridge, he was as surprised as anybody to find himself playing alongside the likes of David Gower, Allan Lamb and Phil Edmonds. He also had to contend with being hailed as the new Ian Botham, even though the old one was still going strong - and playing in the same team.For England, it was a time of mixed fortunes, as Ashes victories alternated with humiliation by a dominant West Indies. The chop-and-change policy of the selectors - culminating in the summer of four captains in 1988 - made cricket such an insecure profession that some players chose to go on rebel tours of South Africa, while others relished every opportunity the game provided - on and off the field.The hard slog of domestic cricket, meanwhile, had never seen so much talent, with counties boasting overseas players like Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall and Javed Miandad. A coach-free zone, it was left in the hands of canny old pros such as Keith Fletcher and John Lever, who guided Essex to multiple Championship and one-day successes.But cricket was changing, and not necessarily for the better. By the end of the decade, as the new coaching culture established itself, it became clear that the days of the maverick cricketer were numbered. Few players ended the Eighties wealthy, but as Derek Pringle's eye-opening memoir reveals, all left rich in experience, with enough stories to last a lifetime.

Arabia

Levison Wood

Blowing the Bloody Doors Off

Michael Caine

Authors:

Michael Caine

'Chatty and engaging . . . he often comes across as endearingly humble' SUNDAY TIMES'Thoroughly engaging' SUNDAY EXPRESS magazine'Fabulous storytelling' PRIMAHollywood legend and British national treasure Sir Michael Caine shares the wisdom, stories, insight and skills that life has taught him in his remarkable career - and now his 85th year.One of our best-loved actors Michael Caine has starred in a huge range of films - including all-time favourites - from the classic British movies Alfie, Zulu and The Italian Job to the Hollywood blockbusting Dark Knight trilogy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hannah and Her Sisters and Cider House Rules. Caine has excelled in every kind of role - with a skill that's made it look easy. He knows what success takes - he's made it to the top of his profession from the toughest beginning. But as he says 'Small parts can lead to big things. And if you keep doing things right, the stars will align when you least expect it.' Now in his 85th year he wants to share everything he's learned.With brilliant new insight into his life and work and with his wonderful gift for story, this is Caine at his wise and entertaining best.

Going to the Match: The Passion for Football

Duncan Hamilton

Authors:

Duncan Hamilton

'Simply magnificent.' Mail on SundayA massive audience in sitting-rooms, parks and pubs watched England in the 2018 World Cup. Yet as Duncan Hamilton demonstrates with style, insight and wit in Going to the Match, watching on TV is no substitute for being there. Hamilton embarks on a richly entertaining, exquisitely crafted journey through football. Glory game or grass roots, England v Slovenia or Guiseley v Hartlepool, he delves beneath the action to illuminate the stories which make the sport endlessly compelling.Along the way he marvels at present-day titans Harry Kane, Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and Paul Pogba, reflects on sepia-tinted magicians Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton and Pele, and assesses managerial giants from Brian Clough and Jose Mourinho to Arsene Wenger and Gareth Southgate.The odyssey takes Hamilton from Fleetwood to Berlin, via Glasgow and a Manchester derby, making detours into art, cinema, literature and politics as he explores the game's ever-changing culture and character.The result, like the L.S. Lowry painting that inspired the book, is a football masterpiece.

Journeys to the Other Side of the World

David Attenborough

Step By Step

Simon Reeve

Authors:

Simon Reeve

Shortlisted for the 2019 Edward Stanford Award 'My goodness, it is brilliant. Searingly honest, warm, bursting with humanity. Such brave and inspiring writing.' Kate Humble'I couldn't put it down, literally couldn't put it down... A cracking autobiography. It's so diverse, it's beautifully written. It's a real page-turner...The best autobiography of anyone under 50 I've ever read.' Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2'[Simon] begins to fill in the gaps in his life story that until recently he has never publicly revealed.' TelegraphPRAISE FOR SIMON REEVE'TV's most interesting globetrotter' Independent'The craziest (or bravest) man on TV' Mail on Sunday'Like all the best travellers, Reeve carries out his investigations with infectious relish, and in the realisation that trying to understand the country you're in is not just fascinating, but also hugely enjoyable' Daily Telegraph'Simon might just be the best tour guide in the world' The Sun* * * * * * * * *The inspiring memoir from TV traveller Simon Reeve's life of amazing adventures in over 120 countries and the most remote and extreme corners of the planet.TV adventurer Simon Reeve has journeyed across epic landscapes, dodged bullets on frontlines, walked through minefields and been detained for spying by the KGB. His travels have taken him across jungles, deserts, mountains and oceans, and to some of the most beautiful, dangerous and remote regions of the world. In this revelatory account of his life Simon gives the full story behind some of his favourite expeditions, and traces his own inspiring personal journey back to leaving school without qualifications, teetering on a bridge, and then overcoming his challenges by climbing to a 'Lost Valley' and changing his life ... step by step.

Over and Out: My Innings of a Lifetime with Test Match Special

Henry Blofeld

Back to the Boy

James Arthur

Kathy Willis

Kathy Willis is director of science at Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. She is also professor of long-term ecology and a fellow of Merton College, both at Oxford University. Winner of several awards, she has spent over 20 years researching and teaching biodiversity and conservation at Oxford and Cambridge.

Leo Critchley

Leo was born and raised in London but always pined for the fresh sea air and wide-open spaces of the south west where he was taken on yearly holidays. Graduating from Christ`s College, Cambridge having switched subjects from Natural Sciences to English Literature due to a lamentable lack of poetry in the former, he went on to start a company teaching kung fu, before a spell as a management consultant and web designer. He now writes and lives in West London. For more information visit www.robandleo.com. You can also follow Rob and Leo on Facebook and Twitter https://www.facebook.com/getbackuk and @robandleo